The Marshall Centre at UWA

The Marshall Centre at UWA The Marshall Centre for Infectious Diseases, Research and Training at UWA

Great discussions at the Marshall Centre this week with Hon. Sabine Winton MLA, Minister for Preventative Health, a stro...
29/05/2026

Great discussions at the Marshall Centre this week with Hon. Sabine Winton MLA, Minister for Preventative Health, a strong advocate for preventative care and immunisation in Western Australia.

Minister Winton was welcomed by Professor Charlene Kahler, Head of School and Director of the Marshall Centre, Simon Ward, Senior Advisor of Government Relation and Kate McKenzie Manager of Research Partnerships, for discussions on infectious diseases research, training and public health initiatives aligned with the State Government’s preventative health priorities.

The visit highlighted the breadth of research across the Marshall Centre, including diagnostic development for gut infections, therapeutics to prevent respiratory infections, and pandemic preparedness. The important role of prevention-focused strategies such as immunisation and early intervention in improving long-term health outcomes was discussed.

We also appreciated the opportunity to continue discussions around future preventative health initiatives for sexually transmitted infections
Thank you to Minister Winton and Ms Nicola Bird for taking the time to visit and engage with our researchers and clinicians.

May has been filled with meaningful conversations, new connections and inspiring visits at the Marshall Centre, reflecti...
28/05/2026

May has been filled with meaningful conversations, new connections and inspiring visits at the Marshall Centre, reflecting the growing momentum of our research, partnerships and global engagement.

We were delighted to welcome Ms Elizabeth Perron, Executive Chair of the Stan Perron Charitable Foundation, together with Directors Mr Ross Ledger, Ms Fiona Payne and Mr Ross Robertson, to the Marshall Centre for Infectious Diseases Research and Training. The visit provided an opportunity to share first-hand the impact of the Foundation’s longstanding support for infectious diseases research, training and research infrastructure, and to thank the Foundation for its enduring partnership with the Marshall Centre.

During their visit, the Directors met Head of School and Director of the Marshall Centre, Professor Charlene Kahler; Nobel Laureate Professor Barry Marshall; Deputy Director Professor Mark Nicol; BrightSpark Early Career Research Fellow Dr. Ritika Kar Bahal, Ms Liz Fu and Ms Venessa Csd.

The visit highlighted the transformative impact of the Foundation’s investment in research capability and the new structure and scope of the Marshall Centre. This includes a $1.8 million grant supporting Professor Mark Nicol’s respiratory live biotherapy research and a recently announced $2.2 million grant to Professor Charlene Kahler to establish PC3 containment capability at UWA. Once completed, the facility will strengthen Western Australia’s capacity to respond to emerging infectious disease threats, support pandemic preparedness, and enable researchers to undertake critical work with high-risk pathogens closer to home.

The Directors also visited the PC2 Clinical Microbiology Laboratory at the Marshall Centre and met Foundation-supported students, Mr Kan YU and Ms Anastasia Basuki, and heard how their work is advancing child health, infectious diseases and microbiology research. From understanding the role of the respiratory microbiome in childhood health to investigating host–microbe interactions and emerging infectious disease challenges, these projects are helping to generate knowledge that can improve health outcomes both locally and globally.

We are sincerely grateful to the Stan Perron Charitable Foundation for its continued commitment to advancing health and medical research, supporting the next generation of researchers, and helping build a stronger future for infectious disease research in Western Australia.

What a wonderful evening at the Perth Biodesign Gala Dinner on Monday 18 May.A sincere thank you to UWA Development and ...
25/05/2026

What a wonderful evening at the Perth Biodesign Gala Dinner on Monday 18 May.

A sincere thank you to UWA Development and Alumni Relations, Ms Kamyra Laurenson, and Perth Biodesign Chair Professor Kevin Pfleger for the generous invitation and wonderful hospitality throughout the evening.

It was incredibly inspiring to spend time with such passionate innovators, clinicians, researchers and industry leaders, all united by a shared goal of improving healthcare and driving medical innovation forward. There was a real sense of optimism in the room about what collaboration between research, industry, and philanthropy can achieve.

We were especially grateful to Jill Dawson OAM (President, Perth Rotary), John Garland (Garland International), and fellow Perth Rotary members for joining us and taking the time to learn more about the Marshall Centre’s vision to advance infectious diseases work that improves lives locally and globally.

We are also very proud of our Marshall Centre team, Professor Charlene Kahler (Director, Marshall Centre), Dr Mitali Sarkar-Tyson, Dr Matthew Sullivan, Associate Professor Allison Imrie, Dr Aleksandra Debowski Dr. Ritika Kar Bahal and Ms Liz Fu, for sharing their work and engaging in thoughtful discussions with our Perth Rotary partners.

Nights like this are a powerful reminder that meaningful change happens when good people come together around a shared purpose.

Tuesday was an exciting day filled with dynamic conversations and shared enthusiasm as we welcomed Professor Tran Trung ...
07/05/2026

Tuesday was an exciting day filled with dynamic conversations and shared enthusiasm as we welcomed Professor Tran Trung Dung, CEO of Vinmec Health Care System, and colleagues from VinMec to the Marshall Centre, together with Professor Barry Marshall, Patron of the Marshall Centre.

The meeting concluded with the signing of a new collaboration. This partnership brings together VinMec’s clinical leadership and healthcare network with the Marshall Centre’s expertise in infectious diseases, diagnostics and translational research across key areas including gut health, respiratory health, reproductive health and health security.

The partnership signing was formalised by Professor Charlene Kahler and Dr Vu Thi My Hanh, Director of Clinical Training and Strategic Partnerships.
The flagship initiative of this collaboration will be the Vietnam Gastric Health ambition, focused on Helicobacter pylori infection and gastrointestinal health. This represents a bold commitment to eradicate and reducing gastric cancer in Vietnam.

Our Deputy Director Professor Mark Nicol, Dr Alfred Chin Yen Tay, Ms Liz Fu, Dr. Khun Peng An, and Ms Hannah Vu from UWA Global Engagement were also part of the visit and welcomed the delegation.
We would also like to thank Dr Samuel Lundin, Luke Marshall, Dr Priyanthi Kumarasinghe, Dr Richard Allcock and Dr Chisha Sikazwe, PhD for hosting us and the VinMec delegation, and for sharing valuable insights into Biotome Pty Ltd and the important work being carried out at PathWest.

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With Associate Professor Allison Imrie leading the way, UWA is now a member of PREZODE (PREventing ZOonotic Disease Emer...
18/03/2026

With Associate Professor Allison Imrie leading the way, UWA is now a member of PREZODE (PREventing ZOonotic Disease Emergence), an international initiative dedicated to tackling global challenges associated with the prevention, surveillance, early detection, and rapid response to zoonotic pandemic risks.

This international initiative is based on the One Health approach, which encompasses human, animal and environmental health to detect diseases of animal origin.

https://lnkd.in/gQgGUx2s

This partnership reflects UWA’s commitment to global health, biosecurity, and interdisciplinary solutions that protect communities, ecosystems, and economies. As part of PREZODE’s global network The University of Western Australia will contribute its research expertise and collaborative capacity to strengthen proactive approaches that reduce the likelihood of future zoonotic spill over events, within The Marshall Centre at UWA Health Security theme lead by Associate Professor Allison Imrie and Clinical Professor David Smith. Dr Imrie also serves as UWA’s PREZODE Focal Point.

We are looking forward to working with our partners and collaborators on this exciting initiative.

Advancing infectious disease and child health research through strong science and philanthropic partnership between the ...
12/03/2026

Advancing infectious disease and child health research through strong science and philanthropic partnership between the Marshall Centre and Stan Perron foundation

Congratulations to Professor Charlene Kahler, Dr Lucy Furfaro and Mr Kan YU on this well-deserved recognition of their contributions to advancing research.

With a $2.2 million grant from the Stan Perron Charitable Foundation, our Director Professor Kahler is leading the upgrade of the UWA’s laboratories to establish PC3 containment capability, strengthening Western Australia’s capacity for infectious disease research and pandemic preparedness. The facility upgrade is expected to commence in the second half of 2026, with completion anticipated in 2027.

We also celebrate the 2025 Health Research Grant awarded to Dr Lucy Furfaro (UWA) for her bacteriophage research targeting Group B Streptococcal infections, and the Stan Perron Fellowship 2025 awarded to Marshall Centre PhD candidate Mr Kan YU for his work on health-associated airway commensal bacteria.

Congratulations again to Professor Kahler, Dr Lucy Furfaro and Mr Kan Yu. These achievements highlight the Marshall Centre’s growing research capability and the critical role of philanthropic support in enabling impactful medical research. We also thank our philanthropic partners whose support continues to make this work possible.

Read more:
https://lnkd.in/g39X_yGE

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Strengthening Global Health Partnerships in VietnamThe University of Western Australia has formalised a new partnership ...
27/02/2026

Strengthening Global Health Partnerships in Vietnam

The University of Western Australia has formalised a new partnership with VinMec Healthcare System and the College of Health Sciences at VinUniversity (VinUni) in Hanoi, strengthening UWA’s engagement in Vietnam and advancing collaboration in infectious diseases research and training.

Representing the UWA School of Biomedical Sciences and the Marshall Centre for Infectious Diseases Research and Training, Professor Charlene Kahler met with academic and clinical leaders to progress joint research initiatives and capacity-building programs.

Central to this collaboration is research into Helicobacter pylori in Vietnam. Led by Nobel Laureate Professor Barry Marshall, the Marshall Centre’s Helicobacter Research Laboratory is a global authority in H. pylori and gastric disease.

The partnership will extend this expertise to Vietnam, supporting targeted research in a population where infection rates are high and gastric cancer remains a major public health challenge.

This agreement reflects a shared commitment to combining research excellence with clinical application, strengthening training, and building sustainable research capability through international partnership.

Micro-credentials Study Tour Program Completion Ceremony 🎓🧬Yesterday we celebrated the completion of the MICRM888 Microb...
12/02/2026

Micro-credentials Study Tour Program Completion Ceremony 🎓🧬

Yesterday we celebrated the completion of the MICRM888 Microbial Marvels – Unveiling the Hidden Frenemies program at the McCusker Auditorium, Harry Perkins Institute of Medical Research.

Over the past two weeks, 65 students from Hunan University, West China School of Medicine (Sichuan University), and Zhejiang University joined us in Perth for this UWA Uni Link study tour. Together, they explored the fascinating world of microbes through lectures, hands-on laboratory experiences, and cultural activities across Western Australia.

A special highlight of the ceremony was an inspiring lecture by Emeritus Professor Barry Marshall. Students were visibly excited to hear from a Nobel Laureate whose discoveries changed modern medicine. His story of curiosity, courage, and scientific persistence left many feeling motivated to pursue their own research journeys.
The ceremony brought together UWA senior leadership and colleagues to recognise the students’ achievements, with certificates and awards presented following remarks from Professor Guy Littlefair, Professor Barry Marshall, and Professor Zachary Aman and David Connell. Hearing reflections from student representatives was a touching moment, capturing the friendships formed and the new perspectives gained.

For many participants, these two weeks were more than just a short course — they were a chance to experience real research, connect across cultures, and imagine new possibilities for the future.

Thank you to Ms Sandy Ng, Director of Unilink, Ms Mandy Lin, Program Manager, and their team for delivering such a great program, Dr Alfred Chin Yen Tay, Erwin A. Paz and their team for always teaching with passion.
We wish all students continued growth, curiosity, and success in the years ahead.

🧦✨ Celebrating Our 2025 Socks for Science Winner — Nowshin Jainob! ✨🧦We’re excited to announce Nowshin Jainob as the win...
24/11/2025

🧦✨ Celebrating Our 2025 Socks for Science Winner — Nowshin Jainob! ✨🧦
We’re excited to announce Nowshin Jainob as the winner of this year’s Socks for Science Design Competition!

Her design tells a powerful story about the Marshall Centre’s work.
🧪 The white background represents the lab coats worn by our researchers.
🌊 The blue heels and toes symbolise the deep ocean — a reminder of the vast, uncharted frontiers of scientific discovery.
🔬 At the centre sits a microscope, highlighting the core of our laboratory research.
🦠 Beneath the lens, she illustrated four microbes studied at the Marshall Centre: Helicobacter pylori, African swine fever virus, Neisseria meningitidis, and SARS-CoV-2 — each coloured to reflect how they appear under staining or colourised electron microscopy.

Nowshin’s thoughtful, science-inspired artwork will be featured on our limited-edition Marshall Centre socks!

To support infectious disease research — and to get your own pair featuring Nowshin’s design — simply donate $25 or more to the Marshall Centre.

🧦 Limited stock available — don’t miss out!

👉 https://lnkd.in/g5MvuWKj

Congratulations, Nowshin — and thank you to everyone who participated this year!

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